Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday. Isa 58:9-10

Everyday people awake with ideals of success and to be victorious in their living. They strive to accomplish and gain greater good than yesterday. They seek to remember their days by moments of ecstasy and glory, rather than by moments of sorry, failure, and defeat. Christians can find themselves trapped in the same dilemma of highs and lows. Striving to do good. Seeking a life that is pleasing and acceptable to God, but too often falling into sorry, defeat, guilt, and shame. The Christian life ought to be one of continuous victory, right? The eternal change that occurs within the child of God through faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, that gives us victory over sin and peace with God, then every day ought to be victorious, right? Yes! “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Rom 8:37). Each day, at every moment of the day, the child of God can live victoriously because we know the victory, even in moments with we don’t feel victorious. The scripture passage teaches us that victorious living is outside of ourselves. The things that rob us of victorious living are the yokes we place upon ourselves and others, finger pointing, and empty words. Rather than these things, be move with compassion toward “the hungry, and…the afflicted soul.” When we see the needs of others, allow “the love of Christ to compel us” (2 Cor 5:14) to “draw out of thy soul” that richly dwells within us. Then we experience the victory of Jesus Christ that dwells within our souls. Let the world know your victory by “the love for one another” you show to other in their moment of need. My friend, “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…and whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (1 Tim 6:17). Father, thank You for loving us, forgiving us, and cleansing us by the blood of Jesus Christ. May You be glorified through the victories in my life. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. Isa 58:11

In the days of the exodus, when the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness, Jehovah God led the way. He did not delegate their time of wandering to an angel, but He Himself led His people. It is hard to imagine how God would be so faithful to a people who murmured, complained, and criticized all along the way throughout their pilgrimage to the Promised Land. Yet in this scripture passage we find God’s Personal commitment to His people and His faithfulness to His word. God made an unconditional promise to the children of Israel prior to leading them out of bondage from Egypt. He promised “I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage” (Ex 6:8). Throughout their pilgrimage, God made His Presence known to the children of Israel. He was faithful to them day and night. They saw His cloud by day and His fiery pillar in the night. Though they challenged God’s patience and rebelled against His word, God faithfully led His people into the Promised Land. My friend, God has not left you in your Christian pilgrimage to find your own way, and to face life’s battles alone. He gives us hope and assurance of His presence with the promise that “the Lord shall guide thee.” To the child of God, He has promised “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” And His presence and His promises are without end. He “continually” guides His children without fail. Today, the child of God may not see a cloud by day or fiery pillar by night to remind them of God’s presence, but He now abides within every believer by faith, and we have the blessed assurance that “lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matt 28:20). My friend, trust the promises of God’s word and look to Him for His faithfulness. He will never forsake you. He is “continually” faithful to the end. He is worthy of all praise. Father, thank you for the promises of Your word and Your continued faithfulness. I praise You in the worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Thus will I bless Thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in Thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips. Ps 63:4-5

I prayed you had a blessed day of worship as you gathered with your local church on this past Lord’s Day. I pray that your week is continually filled with moments of worship and praise. That can be difficult for us if we are prone to grumbling, complaining, and a need for more satisfaction. It seems that in the hectic pace of society and its busyness, that few people find contentment. Contentment is not a lack of awareness or simple laziness, but an open acceptance to God’s provisions. Contentment is more than just looking at the bright side and adding up the positives, it is being open to all things in life and accepting the whole of things as from the hand of God to say with the Apostle “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Phil 4:11). The scripture passage encourages us to always be content, whether with plenty or in lack. Whether we profit or suffer loss. The psalmist purposed within himself not to allow anything to disturb or distract him from the inner peace and worship of knowing God’s presence. He purposed to conquer the spirit of murmuring, complaining, and criticizing that is so common to the natural man and give himself to “bless Thee…lift up my hands…be satisfied…and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips.” My friend, contentment is not something to be found, but learned. It begins with a daily walk with God to “bless Thee while I live.” Whatever things comes your way and whatever your hands are applied to “lift up” to the Holy Name of Jesus. The moments of your day will soon overcome you with awareness of God’s blessings, God’s provisions, and God’s presence that your soul is “satisfied” and your “mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips.” My friend, the greatest gain for one’s life is “godliness with contentment” (1 Tim 6:6). Father, thank You that You supply all my need according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19). Open the eyes of my heart that I may learn to live for Your glory and praise, with contentment in my soul. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.